Those accused of minor offenses in the Bronx have all but lost their fundamental right to a trial, subjected to such hardship in pursuit of a hearing that it is often easiest to agree to a plea bargain.

April 27, 2013, Saturday

Chad Hooks, 23, spent three years, seven months and three days at Rikers Island before his trial on charges of killing a man finally got under way in the Bronx. The family of the victim had to wait, too.